SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE

6:45 pm, County Building cafeteria, 70 W. Hedding St. San Jose

 

MINUTES FOR Thursday, April 7, 2005

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER: 7:15

 

2.         ROLL CALL

Absent: Julie Lind, Francine Davis, Bill Dias, Cathy Dias, Francis La Poll, Anna Song, Kevin Moore, Alex Kennett, Tony Alexander, Alberto Torrico, Ira Ruskin, Sally Lieber, Joe Coto, Simon Salinas, Liz Figueroa, Joe Simitian, Jerry McNerney, Anna Eshoo, Fran Bennett

Excused: Deniese Alejandro

 

Alternate: John Reese for Dan Kenney, Chris Cote for Kristine Dillon, Kansen Chu for Elaine Alquist, Michael Wang for Mike Honda, Sandra Soto for Zoe Lofgren, Clarence Madrilejos, alternate for Paul Fong

 

3.         IDENTIFICATION OF VISITORS

Jay Jackman, CJ Wilson, Nick Steinmier, Stacy Chu, Jaime McCloud, Jackie Moore, Joan Spencer, Rudy Zamarron, Michael Wang 

 

4.         ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

Motion to approve, addition of discussion of endorsement of SB 596, motion carried

 

5.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Minutes are posted at sccdp.org)

Motion to approve, second, carried

 

6.         SPEAKER

            Guest speaker Wiggsy Sivertsen, Co-founder of BAYMEC: discussed the need to support civil rights for gay people and AB 19 which states that the State may not discriminate in the marriage laws in same sex marriage. This bill is a statute and is not specifically in support of or against gay marriage.

Discussion on.

 

Steve Preminger stated that the executive board would draft a potential resolution in support of AB 19

 

            Assemblymember John Laird gave the membership an update on the Governorπs proposals and budget ideas. The Assemblymember re-laid the news that the Governorπs plan to privatize pensions was withdrawn. However, the Governor still has 3 other proposals: cut teacher tenure, redistricting changes by next year, and a rewrite of prop 98 (which would take $40 billion out of education). Additionally, the Governorπs budget plan includes $6 billion in borrowing, retaining a $5 billion deficit, eliminating funding for transportation, cutting seniorsπ property tax assistance and redirecting the Federal money for this to another area, cutting in-home service workersπ pay to minimum wage, and cutting $2.3 billion out of education for this yearπs budget and $4 billion out every year after.

 

(The latest poll on the Governorπs popularity came out 43% positive and 43% negative)

 

Discussion: to help further our agenda you should inform the community of the Governorπs activities by writing op eds, discussing the Governorπs activity with friends, family, co-workers, and attending and speaking out at community meetings and meetings of other organizations.

 

Further discussion on the budget issues included a need for Democrats to stand strong to save funding for education and other important projects and groups.

 

            Assemblymember Rebecca Cohn: Was able to listen to the Governor rolling back on the pension initiative. She expressed great pride in being a Democrat right now because Democrats have been mobilized with great effort since January. She warned the membership that the Governor cut a deal with management of public safety over the past couple of days, which may be part of an attempt to eliminate unions. The Assemblymember and the legislature will be insisting that the Governor be present in the legislature instead of canvassing across the State.

 

 

7.         NEW BUSINESS

 

Peter Chiu report on State Party potential rules change: Bylaws and structure of the State Party were reviewed upon request by Art Torres. The Assembly District (AD) committees were found to have independent rules, bylaws and actions from one another. The review committee found that many County Committees within the State are not functioning well with the AD committees.

 

These findings led to the proposal that the AD committees are disbanded and a caucus will meet every 2 years to elect representatives to serve as delegates to the State Party Convention and Executive Board. These electeds could form an AD club in order to do voter registration and raise money and not have to worry about McCain/Fiengold problems. Will not be voted on at the convention.

 

Discussion on: no effect upon County Central Committee members.

 

Steve Chessin: Endorsement of SB 596: instant run off voting. Motion to endorse, second, carried

 

8.         REPORTS FROM OFFICERS AND OTHERS

A.      Executive Board: Hope Cahan

The board discussed the convention, setting up the office and expenses, upcoming voter registration events, and the dinner.

 

B.      Chair: Steve Preminger

Steve is working hard to get ready for convention, the Governorπs visit, and on the dinner.

 

C.      Vice Chair: James Kim

James has been attending club meetings to encourage members to join the Human Race. He reminded the membership that they are able to appoint two alternates to attend in their place if they are unable to come to a meeting, therefore, all members should have some representation.

 

Encouragement of clubs to purchase multiple tables for the dinner

 

D.      Treasurer: Drina Collins

$1,485.97 in our account

 

E.       Secretary: Hope Cahan

Reminder to email or hand in your reports to me

 

F.       Community Services and Voter Registration: Linda Spangler

Since the last report, we set-up the office at 2102 Almaden Rd, #114, San Jose and purchased a new computer and accompanying equipment. There has been a short delay in receiving the modem and splitters for our DSL from SBC, but as soon as they are in we will be able to go live and activate the office.

 

Currently we anticipate opening the office M-F from 9-1 providing we get volunteers to help us staff the space. If any of you know people who would like to come in and help us, please feel free to contact me. Remember, for the short time, things will be slow as we gear up for great things.

 

If any of you are currently scheduling any tabling efforts at any Fair, Festival, or Farmersπ Market, would you please email me at pl.spangler@veriszon.net with the dates, times, and staff names for those events. I want to track the events we have covered and those we donπt. Likewise, I donπt want to try to staff events that are already staffed. Also, if you are aware of upcoming events that you think we should have voter registration tables, please email me that information.

 

We have started a ≥Stop Arnold≤ campaign. If you go to our website and click on Stop Arnold, you will be taken to the initiative information and given an opportunity to download and print flyers that you can distribute throughout your neighborhood. We ask that if you do this, please report back what you have accomplished and the feedback you are getting.

 

We are also developing a Rapid Response Team concept in which we will ask the volunteers who choose to participate, to be available to respond to petition gathering sites or other demonstration sites so we can be heard as well. If anyone is willing to participate in this project, please contact me.

 

One of my main goals is to highlight our sense of community, among ourselves and within the greater community at large. I hope you will join me in that endeavor and feel free to contact me with you ideas on how we can better serve you and your volunteers. Thanks to all who have so kindly helped so far. Letπs Press on!

 

G.      Finance: Jim Thurber

Yield time to Chair of the Democratic Dinner: Jennifer Wallace. Ticket price is $100 (same as last year). Four ways clubs are able to help: distribute invitations, buy tables, buy VIP reception tickets, and buy ads in the program. Additionally, all of the clubs will have an opportunity to have a table outside of the dinner (2 representatives and literature). However, Jennifer will need the names of the clubs and their 2 representatives by April 17^th.

 

H.      Candidate Recruitment and Endorsement: Jon Kessler

In Home Support Services meeting on April 22^nd in Campbell Community Center from 3:00-4:30 co-hosted by Assemblymember Cohn and Supervisor Beall.

 

Endorsement Interviews held by: Jon Kessler, Xavier Campos, James Kim, Drina Collins, Carol Garvey, Steve Preminger, Dennis Austin, Che Hammond, Claudia Shope, Pearl Cheng

 

Interviewed 6 of the 8 candidates for San Jose City Council District 7: Beth Gonzales, Madison Nguyen, Rudy Rodriguez, Mahea Lani, Tim Lauwers, Linda Nguyen

 

Recommendations to do a 3-way endorsement of Beth Gonzales, Madison Nguyen, and Rudy Rodriguez. Motion to endorse slate, second, discussion on the candidates, motion carried.

 

I. Communication: David Cohen

 

J.        Campaign Services: Philip Bump

Arnold is trying to arm twist us into accepting things that we do not want. Two ways you can get involved right now: 1) participate in signature signing 2) join the STOP coalition

 

K.       Issues: Herb Engstrom

Normally, Clubs and Committees pass resolutions on issues, but often I find these much too limiting.  CDP rules restrict these resolutions to at most 3 "whereas" clauses and 2 "be it resolved" clauses.  There are many issues - the most interesting issues - where our positions have to be laid out with detailed justifications.  To do so I suggest that the Committee adopt position papers on issues of relevance.  I further suggest that the web site have a page set aside for these papers to be posted.

I was delighted that Assemblymembers John Laird and Rebecca Cohn were here and reported on some of the issues related to the state budget and the Schwarzenegger initiatives.  I am going to propose that we make such reports from legislators a regular feature of our meetings, perhaps 3 or 4 times per year.  If the legislators can't be here in person, their alternates can make the report.  I note that several of the legislators have yet to appoint alternates.  At the end of Mr. Laird's talk Jay Jackman asked him "How can we help?"  This is an important question that we should put to our legislators when they report to us.

I plan to send out a questionnaire to all Committee members to solicit opinions on how to present and discuss issues. Should we allocate 10 minutes from our monthly meeting? More time? Have a separate meeting? Use email?

 

L.      Political Outreach: Tom Cochran

Club Reports: 17 club tables committed during the club reports

 

            The Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley: Carolyn Curtis         

At our general meeting (meetups, in two locations) we set up groups to visit local congressional district offices to show support for our representatives' standing firm on Social Security.

 

Other activity:

- picnic & wildflower walk fundraiser of Jerry McNerney April 10

- George Lakoff event at the Wyndham in San Jose April 22, hope to see you all there

- two tables at the dinner April 29

- many of us will be in our delegates' chairs at the state party convention

 

            Silicon Valley Latino Democratic Forum: Diego Barragan

The club interviewed District 7 candidates and will be re-interviewing 3 candidates for the final endorsement.

 

The SVLDF luncheon will be held in May with keynote speaker Senator Gil Cedillo

 

The club is looking forward to joining with the Peninsula Democrats on the Phil Angelides event.

 

Evergreen Democratic Club: Beverly Waller-Wharton

SCCDCCπs Vice Chair, James Kim, was featured speaker on the topic of ≥Why Political Activity is Important.≤ His talk fell on receptive ears and I thought we would have more than our usual Club representation. Another member, Diane Eves, volunteered for 2 hours per week at the Central Committeeπs new Almaden Office.

 

Our club president continues advocacy for SB 849, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, through letters to Senators Maldanado and Spiers and the Executive Director of Health Care for All California, Andrew McGuire, in addition to phone conversations with Maldonadoπs staff on the possibility of support from the Senator if the bill is expanded to include workerπs compensation health care expenses and gains acceptance from the business community and Chamber of Commerce.

 

Every one of our 229 members had their JJ Dinner invitations hand-delivered with the club newsletter.

 

Club members expect to be involved again in voter registration efforts and attend the Lakoff event on the 22^nd; 11 signed up for the annual Democratic Dinner so far, and a goodly number are expected to attend the Forumπs 11^th annual Senior Concerns Rally & BBQ on April 23^rd. I participated in the ≥Bring Our Troops Home Now≤ March and Rally as well as the picketing on March 20^th of the Governorπs fund raising efforts at the Fairmont.

 

For Mayπs meeting we have scheduled Stanford Law Professor, Emeritus, and former NLRB Chair, William Gould.

M.     Regional Director: Emy Thurber

 

N.     Democratic National Committee: Chris Stampolis

New Chairman Howard Dean has been doing a great job so far. Is currently working on going to local TV, radio, and newspapers to reach out to the community.

 

Next Western Caucus: Helena Montana June 4^th and 5^th

 

O.      Pro-Choice Coalition: Claudia Shope

Parents right to Know organization is still trying to collect signatures for a ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution and require abortion providers to notify a parent or guardian 48 hours in advance of performing an abortion on an unemancipated minor.

 

Debrah Ortiez is combating anti-choice leanings with her bill SB 644. This bill would require pharmacists to either have another pharmacist fill EC and BC prescriptions or inform the customer of a nearby place to fill the prescription. If the pharmacist is unable to do either, then he must fill the prescription. The hearing for this bill is on April 11^th.

 

Federal: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is trying to end the Democrats right to filibuster of Bushπs judicial nominees by using the ≥nuclear option≤. This option would declare such filibustering unconstitutional and lower the number of votes needed to accept a judicial nominee to 51- a number will within the reach of the 55 Republican members of the Senate.

 

The US Department of Health and Human Services has put out a website with deceptive information such as exaggerating the failure rate of contraceptives, redefining when a pregnancy begins, and claiming that marriage protects a person from STDs. Additionally, the language is biased. The site has not been reviewed by experts, nor do its claims match the findings of the most recent peer-reviewed studies on sexual education, contraceptives, or postponing adolescent sexual activity.

 

Kansas Attorney General Phil Kline is still trying to get the records of the 90 women who had late term abortions.

 

P.      DTV Report: Steve Chessin

Democratic Television Producer Steve Chessin reported that our March taping was with Sharon Chatman, Chair of Building Peaceful Families.

 

Our guest in April will be Mountain View Mayor Matt Neely. Congressman Mike Honda is penciled in for May.

 

We will be on San Jose AT&T Channel 15A April 7th and May 5th with the show we taped with Sharon Chatman, and April 21st and May 19th with the show we will tape with Mayor Neely. See the sccdp web site for the schedule in the other communities.

 

We are on Gilroy Channel 20 four times a week! See the web site for the full schedule.

 

We could still use more good Democrats on the crew. No prior video experience is necessary.

 

San Jose Channel 15A (also serves part of Cupertino), 8:00pm every other Thursday (408-918-3200):

2005:

Apr 7   DTV 122           Building Peaceful Families

Apr 21   DTV 123           Hon. Matt Neely

May 5  DTV 122           Building Peaceful Families

May 19  DTV 123           Hon. Matt Neely

 

See http://www.sccdp.org/dtv.php for the full schedule.

 

Q.     CDC Report: Jay Jackman

The CDC Region 5 spring meeting is on Saturday, April 23^rd at 9:30-12:30 in the Sheriffπs auditorium (55 West Younger St, San Jose). The topic is ≥winning elections precinct by precinct≤ and the speaker is Mary Hughes, President of Staton Hughes Political Strategists and Consulting. RSVP to Jay Jackman at jayj@stanfordalumni.org

 

9.        OLD BUSINESS

            Call to Action Update

 

10.       ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jim Thurber: Santa Clara County Library Parcel Tax. Please mark yes on A & B and mail as soon as possible.

Jay Jackman: Coalition between Santa Cruz, San Diego, and Santa Clara County to win the Westley competition to create a system to improve voter registration. Members may vote on a system at the convention or at Steve Westley website

Dan Hoffman: Jim Beall is having a pancake breakfast this Saturday; Rebecca Cohn is having a health fair this month. Reminder to support A & B.

Steve Preminger: Thank you to West Valley Democratic Club and the Evergreen Democratic Club for providing refreshments for todayπs meeting.

 

11.        EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

            The next Executive Board meeting on April 19th, location TBA.

 

12.        ADJOURNMENT: 9:30